Boxing: Welcome to weird world of Iron Mike

By PETER JESSUP

Preparations for the Mike Tyson-Lennox Lewis heavyweight title fight show just what a big problem the former is. And just how much the latter is prepared to go through for a huge pay-day.

It will be Lewis' biggest cheque by far, one of the biggest in the history of sport - as much as US$45 million ($97 million) for a maximum 36 minutes in the ring in Memphis, Tennessee, next month.

And the contract stipulates that if either fighter ends the bout with a disqualification following an "extraordinary foul" for, say, biting, the other is guaranteed a bonus of US$3 million ($6.5 million).

It's that promise of the big purse that drew Lewis.

At least he has kept relatively quiet in the build-up to the fight, compared with Tyson.

The former champion described himself as "the most irresponsible person in the world" because he was not ready for the US$100 million ($216 million) he had made by his early 20s.

Among his ramblings: "One day I'm in a dope house robbing someone; next day I'm the heavyweight champion of the world."

And: "Who am I? What am I? I don't even know who I am. I'm a dumb child, I'm being abused, I'm being robbed by lawyers. I think I have more money than I do.

"I'm just a dumb pugnacious fool, a fool who thinks I'm someone. And you tell me I should be responsible? I'm angry at the world."

To a woman reporter's question, Tyson responded: "I normally don't do interviews with women unless I fornicate with them. So you shouldn't talk anymore unless you want to - you know."

The media had crucified him, he said, so decent women didn't want to know him and he was left with "strippers and whores and bitches because you guys put that on me."

"I wish you guys had children so I could kick them in the head or stomp on their testicles so you could feel my pain because that's the pain I wake up with every day."

Tyson, 36, has carried this anger since he was a child. "You don't like the way I carry myself and you make names about me," he told the media.

"Then I might become insecure about that.

"My fuse is so short right now that, if anyone disrespects me, I might kill them.

"I'm surprised I'm not suicidal. I haven't killed myself and I wouldn't do that. I prefer to kill someone else than to kill myself."

All of which raises the question of whether he would be better off in a psychiatric institution than a boxing ring. He probably would.

And why anyone would want to risk his life against him?

Money.

According to the contract signed with joint broadcasters HBO and Showtime, Tyson and Lewis get a guaranteed US$17.5 million ($38 million).

Lewis is with HBO. His deal says the company gets the next US$5 million ($11 million) after his guarantee and Lewis pockets anything above that, which, if the pay-per-view target of two million is reached in the United States, will be around another US$25 million ($54 million).

The two fighters will not meet again before the bout. All media conferences and trainings, and the weighing-in of each, are to be held separately.

Each is apparently to be escorted to the ring by police guard. They will not carry out the traditional touching of gloves where each fighter wishes the other the best.

The weird arrangements continue from start to finish. While HBO has Lewis, Tyson is with Showtime, and the two broadcasters have argued about everything down to how the fight will be introduced and eventually decided that their men will take turns.

So Showtime's Jimmy Lennon will welcome the audience, HBO's Michael Buffer will name the sanctioning bodies, and they will take turns introducing judges and the referee.

But ring announcer Michael Buffer will get to do his famous "Let's get ready to r-r-rumble."

If Lewis wins by a knockout, Buffer will announce the result. If it's a Tyson knockout, then Lennon will have the privilege.

They will share the reading of scorecards if it's a points decision.

It's what might happen after the bout is over that's scary.

Many of Tyson's supporters are keen to impress that they are as loose as he is.

The scenario is one of an impending train wreck.

When Tyson bit off part of Evander Holyfield's ear and spat it on to the canvas to end their fight in Las Vegas in 1997, gunshots were fired inside the MGM Grand.

Something close to a riot ensued as police surrounded the venue and refused to allow anyone to leave until they caught the gunman, which they never did.

The casino did its best to stifle any publicity about the incident, but workers who were there say that millions of dollars in damage was done, gaming tables were overturned and chips stolen, and confidential deals carried out to compensate victims.

So why would promoters, the venue management and anyone else associated with this bout take the risk that Tyson will have one of his fits and set off his crew?

The Pyramid Resort paid US$10 million ($21.7 million) to host the fight, with the expectation that high-rollers will lose way more.

The tickets - priced from US$250 ($540) to US$2400 ($5200) - pay-per-view ($49.95 on Sky in NZ), sponsorship and merchandise income are expected to add up to $175 million.

That's why it's on, sanctioned by the IBF and WBC.

It's a shame and a disgrace to "the noble art."

But yes, I'll be watching.